Standards body launches crackdown on substandard beer

Rwanda Standard Board (RSB) has threatened of strict penalties against factories producing substandard beer, urging them to adhere to the standards set by the regulator. This was said on Friday by Philip Nzaire, the Director of Standard Assurance at RSB, after an operation conducted in collaboration with local leaders in Kimisagara and Muhima sectors of Nyarugenge District, which saw 6,000 litres of substandard beer destroyed. The beers, worth Rwf3 million, were seized being sold in communities from the two sectors. Nzaire warned operations will continue the crackdown across the country and will be done in collaboration with local leaders and other stakeholders to completely rid of substandard alcoholic beverages. These, he said, continue to affect the health of the communities, adding that teams had been constituted and are to be deployed for inspection in different factories across the country. “These substandard beers are making it difficult for genuine local manufacturers to get market for their beverages, besides being a health hazard,” he said. “We held a meeting with local beer manufacturers and other stakeholders on the standards required and are already deploying our staff across the country for inspection because there are some factories that we certified but kept producing substandard beers,” he added. He added that much as there is a deliberate effort by government to promote locally made products, local industries and SMEs, this should not undermine the efforts to uphold the standards of the products. “There are some factories that are producing quality alcoholic beverages and are paying taxes but others still insist on putting to the market illegal products which affect those legally operating,” he said. He added that factories that were given standards certificates but yet are bringing substandard products on the market will be slapped with heavy fines, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the standards body. Evariste Nkunda, the Executive Secretary of Muhima Sector said they are pushing to ban substandard alcohol in the community and to protect people who often times fall victim of insecurity caused by the consumers of these substances. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Standards body launches crackdown on substandard beer